The 2024 Jury Presidents line-up features 11 industry experts from nine distinct markets, showcasing the comprehensive scope of the branded communications ecosystem
Dubai Lynx, MENA’s leading platform for creative excellence and effectiveness, has announced 11 industry experts who will lead the 2024 Juries.
The 11 industry experts from nine different markets, representing the breadth of the branded communications ecosystem including creative agencies, independent agencies, and brands, will convene in Dubai alongside their respective juries to establish the benchmark for creative excellence across MENA.
Commenting on the Jury President line-up, Philip Thomas, Chairman, LIONS and Dubai Lynx, said: “We welcome a wonderfully talented group of experts for 2024, to recognise the best ideas shaping the landscape in this unique part of the world. We thank them for their individual perspectives, expertise and experience for the leadership they will bring to the very important task ahead of them.”
Ian Fairservice, Vice Chairman, Dubai Lynx, added: “We’re thrilled to bring a breadth of voices and perspectives to the Jury rooms for Dubai Lynx 2024, featuring some truly remarkable creative leaders. We’re grateful to all of our 2024 Jurors for devoting their time and knowledge, and we can’t wait to see them in action in Dubai next year.”
The 2024 Dubai Lynx Jury Presidents have been announced as follows:
Brand Experience & Activation and Creative Commerce:
Rafael Rizuto, Chief Creative Officer, Dentsu Creative, US and Hispanic LATAM
Creative Effectiveness and Creative Strategy:
Bertille Toledano, President, BETC Paris, France
Design and Industry Craft:
Rajdeepak Das, CEO and Chief Creative Officer of Leo Burnett and Chairman, Creative Council, Publicis Groupe, South Asia
Digital and Social & Influencer:
Anna Qvennerstedt, Global Chief Creative Officer, Forsman & Bodenfors, Global
Direct and Outdoor:
Nkgabiseng Motau, Co-Founder / Chief Creative Officer, Think Creative Africa, Africa
Entertainment:
Ana Balarin, Chief Creative Officer, Wieden+Kennedy, UK
Film Craft:
Pierre Nelwan, Managing Director, Media.Monks, the Netherlands
Film, Print & Publishing, Radio & Audio, Integrated, Glass: The Award for Change and Grand Prix for Good:
Gabriel Schmitt, Global Chief Creative Officer, Grey, Global
Healthcare:
Rohini Miglani, Vice President, Procter & Gamble International Operational SA SG, Asia/India/MEA
Media:
Enyi Nwosu, Chief Strategy Officer, UM London, UK
PR:
Anthony Chelvanathan, Chief Creative Officer, Canada
The Festival will take place on Tuesday 5 March 2024 followed by the Awards Ceremony & Dinner taking place on Wednesday 6 March 2024.
Entries into Dubai Lynx are being accepted until 25 January 2024. Click here for further information on the awards.
Motivate Val Morgan is the official representative of Dubai Lynx Festival in the UAE
The Luxury & Lifestyle Lions launch recognises the significant transformation and disruption to the creative marketing of brands in the luxury space
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has introduced the Luxury & Lifestyle Lions, setting a global standard for luxury brands, with the goal of acknowledging and celebrating the most influential creative work, experiences, and business solutions within the luxury and lifestyle sector.
Simon Cook, CEO, LIONS, said: “When we introduce a Lion that reflects the needs of an industry sector, the Award is crafted in collaboration with the relevant industry. Our global committee of experts have advised us that this highly disrupted sector needs its own benchmark, so that we can move from driving awareness to recognising solutions that are changing business models and setting a new creative standard for a market in flux. The Luxury & Lifestyle Lions will recognise branded communications and solutions that drive business performance and brand loyalty. A multi-disciplined Jury will set a new benchmark for the luxury sector, with the Lion recognising creative work that elevates the discipline and the sector.”
Marian Brannelly, Global Director of Awards, LIONS, added: “The luxury market has faced significant disruption in recent years and post-pandemic. A shift in consumer behaviour and an accelerated shift towards e-commerce and emerging technologies are just a few of the areas the market has had to navigate and innovate in at speed. Add to this the changing values of new demographics, the evolving definition of luxury in non-Western markets and the need for a heightened focus on sustainability and conscious consumption, and you begin to see the pivotal role that world-class creativity can play in this transformation.”
This change is supported by WARC’s ‘Guide to Luxury Marketing in an Era of Change’ and Euromonitor research, which indicates that sales in the luxury category have rebounded after COVID-19 and are expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels in 2023. Additionally, research by IPSOS demonstrates that the global luxury market is evolving, presenting new opportunities and challenges. It is predicted that demographic shifts in emerging economies will create more than one billion first-time consumers, primarily concentrated in China, India, and Southeast Asia – as their purchasing power is bolstered by rapid digital adoption among a youthful, urban, and tech-savvy population.
Commenting on the Award, Charles Georges-Picot, Global CEO at Marcel and Publicis Luxe, Global Client Lead, said: “At a time where the luxury sector must constantly reinvent, transform and honour brand heritage with a keen eye on the future, the introduction of a Luxury & Lifestyle Lions will help set a new creative benchmark for this highly disrupted and exciting sector. We know that creativity has the power to push boundaries and progress sectors and disciplines. We’re excited about a new industry standard that will redefine how we look at branded communications, business models and creative transformation in this dynamic space.”
At this year’s Cannes Lions, ‘Kaguya by GUCCI’ by Dentsu Inc., Tokyo, was awarded a Bronze Lion in Film Craft. The work featured music that celebrates a mix of historical Japanese artforms with the latest technology in creativity. The creative director behind the piece, Toshihiko Tanabe, said about the launch of the Luxury & Lifestyle Lions: “Luxury campaigns aren’t just about glittering celebrities dancing in the sunset. For years, luxury marketing has served as a rare platform to exhibit visual art and pop culture in the most contemporary way.”
In other changes to the Lions, Brannelly commented: “It’s important that the Awards reflect the current landscape and pave the way forward, so as well as evolving the Lions, it’s equally important for us to retire Lions when necessary. In 2024, following consultation with our Juries, we will close the Mobile Lions. Mobile devices are embedded in work across every channel and discipline, and over the past number of years, mobile-led creativity has been expanding into almost every Lion.”
Full information on the Luxury & Lifestyle Lions, including the definition, criteria and categories, will follow, along with the Entry Kit, in November. Details of the Jury President and Jury will be announced early next year, with submissions into Cannes Lions 2024 being accepted from 18 January 2024.
Click here for further information on the Cannes Lions Awards along with the 2023 winners.
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2023 UAE Cannes Lions Awards Ceremony
UAE Secures 21 Lions at the 2023 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity
The UAE Cannes Lions Awards Ceremony celebrated the country’s triumph at the 2023 Cannes Lions Festival, with 21 wins across various categories
Motivate Media Group and Motivate Val Morgan – the official representatives of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in the UAE, hosted their annual UAE Cannes Lions Awards Ceremony on Tuesday 12th September 2023 to celebrate this year’s winning agencies.
The 70th edition of the Cannes Lions Festival witnessed the UAE’s active participation with a total of 640 entries from 22 agencies. The UAE distinguished itself by securing a total of 21 Lions, including 1 Grand Prix, 1 Gold, 6 Silver, and 13 Bronze awards, spanning various categories. Notably, the UAE achieved inaugural victories in the categories of Glass: The Lion for Change, Entertainment for Music, and Creative Data. The UAE also amassed an impressive tally of 89 shortlisted entries, solidifying its position as a creative powerhouse on the global stage.
This year’s winners across Print & Publishing, Brand Experience and Activation, Creative Commerce, Creative Data, Creative Strategy, Design, Direct, Entertainment for Music, Health & Wellness, Industry Craft, Media, Outdoor, PR, Radio & Audio, and Glass: The Lion for Change categories included:
*VMLY&R Commerce New York in collaboration with VMLY&R Dubai secured 1 x Silver (Radio & Audio)
Creative heads and their respective team members from this year’s winning agencies gathered for an evening of networking and refreshments, culminating in the prestigious LIONS presentation.
Also in attendance was Jonathan Cruz, who, along with Saymon Medeiros, represented the UAE and And Us at the International Young Lions Digital Competition, as well as Chloe Salloum from the American University in Dubai, who proudly represented the UAE in the Roger Hatchuel Academy student program as part of the Cannes Lions Festival.
This year’s Festival marked a remarkable milestone for the UAE, boasting the largest assembly of jurors to preside over a single festival, totaling 18 esteemed jury members. Particularly noteworthy is Ali Rez from Impact BBDO, who made history by becoming the first Jury President from the MENA region.
Impact BBDO was also presented with the MENA Network of the Year award. This prestigious recognition follows the agency’s consistent performance as the No.1 agency in the Middle East and North Africa at Cannes Lions in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Motivate Media Group and Motivate Val Morgan extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winning agencies, and we eagerly anticipate continued success at the upcoming Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity next year.
The United Arab Emirates wins 21 majestic Lions – 1 Grand Prix, 1 Gold, 6 Silver and 13 Bronze, at the 2023 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
The 70th edition of the prestigious Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity drew to a close on 23rd June 2023, with the United Arab Emirates winning a total of 21 Lions – 1 Grand Prix, 1 Gold, 6 Silver and 13 Bronze, across multiple categories, including first-time wins in the categories of Glass: The Lion for Change, Entertainment for Music, and Creative Data. The UAE also amassed an impressive count of 89 shortlists, truly exemplifying its creative prowess on the global stage.
Winning agencies from the UAE include Impact BBDO Dubai, FP7 McCann, Leo Burnett, ‿ and us, VMLY&R, Saatchi & Saatchi ME and Havas Middle East. Their remarkable achievements serve as a testament to the thriving creative landscape within the UAE and the country’s capacity to compete at the forefront of the global advertising and marketing industry.
Philip Thomas, Chairman, LIONS, said, “The body of Lion-winning work that emerged from the Jury rooms points the way forward, and demonstrates the power of the industry to drive change, build businesses and shape society. Congratulations to all those who entered, who made the shortlists, and who won a Lion at the Festival’s 70th edition to set the creative benchmark on the global stage.”
The 70th edition of the Cannes Lions Festival also marked a significant milestone for the UAE, as it boasted the largest contingent of jurors to preside over a single festival. Notably, Ali Rez from Impact BBDO made history by becoming the first-ever Jury President from the MENA region, while Sandro Gelashvili from Google contributed as a jury member for the inaugural Entertainment Lions for Gaming category.
Symon Medeiros and Jonathan Cruz from ‿ and us, along with Chloe Salloum from the American University in Dubai, proudly represented the UAE in two esteemed events as part of the Festival: the International Young Lions Digital Competition (for young creatives under 30 in the digital category) and the Roger Hatchuel Academy (a mentorship program for university students in creative communications). Their participation exemplifies the UAE’s commitment to nurturing and empowering emerging talent in the ever-evolving creative landscape.
Commenting on their experience at this year’s Festival, Saymon and Jonathan from ‿ and us, expressed, “Attending Cannes Lions is always a fantastic experience. It’s a hub of creativity and inspiration where we can gain insights from the best ideas around the globe. Moreover, it’s an excellent opportunity to interact with past colleagues and connect with individuals we aspire to collaborate with in the future. This year, the Young Lions competition centered around Rocket Learning, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping young children prepare for school. We were given 24 hours to develop a digital solution for their brief. It was truly rewarding for us to utilize the power of creativity to assist them in solving real-world problems.”
Speaking about her experience at this year’s Roger Hatchuel Academy, Chloe Salloum from American University in Dubai said, “Representing the UAE at the Cannes Lions Roger Hatchuel Academy was a remarkable experience that exceeded all of my expectations. The week-long program has completely transformed my life and mindset, pushing me to embrace heightened creativity and purpose in my work. Beyond the educational aspect, I had the privilege of forging deep connections and friendships with my fellow Roger Hatchuel Academy graduates. As a member of SheSays Dubai, I was thrilled to learn that 80% of the academy members were women! That is a true testament to the brilliance of women in this industry, and I was ecstatic to be a part of it.”
She further added, “I want to thank my professor, Dina Faour, who has been the driving force behind all of this. I am grateful to American University in Dubai for providing me with the academic knowledge and professional exposure I need to start my career. Lastly, I would like to express my gratitude to the Motivate Val Morgan team, especially Dumindrini Ratnayake, for her professional guidance and support throughout the entire Roger Hatchuel Academy experience. The program has left a special mark on my heart, and I am eager to utilize the invaluable insights I have gained to contribute to the dynamic advertising industry in the UAE.”
As the official representatives of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in the UAE, Motivate Media Group and Motivate Val Morgan extend heartfelt congratulations to the victorious agencies, esteemed jury members, and talented young representatives who proudly showcased the UAE at this year’s Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
Sources: Cannes Lions ‘The Work’
The 70th edition of the Cannes Lions Festival will witness the largest cohort of jurors from the UAE to judge at a singular festival.
Leading voices in their fields — and proven experts when it comes to creative excellence in action – meet the esteemed panel of jury members from the United Arab Emirates, tasked with benchmarking creative work at the 70th edition of the prestigious Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
The 70th edition of Cannes Lions will witness the largest delegation of jurors from the UAE to judge at a Lions Festival, Impact BBDO’s Ali Rez serving as the first Jury President from the MENA region, and Google’s Sandro Gelashvili as an awarding jury member for the Entertainment Lions for Gaming category, which will be awarded for the first time in 2023.
Commenting on this year’s Cannes Lions Jury line-up, Simon Cook – CEO of LIONS, said: “Our Jurors have a huge responsibility – giving up their time, energy, and expertise to set the benchmark for creative excellence as part of the 70th edition of the Lions. We are excited to see the body of Lion winning work that will set the industry standard for the next 70 years.”
In reference to the Cannes Lions jury panel from the UAE, Ian Fairservice – Managing Partner of Motivate Media Group, said, “We are thrilled to have such a diverse and talented group of experts representing the UAE as part of this year’s Cannes Lions jury panel. The 70th edition of the festival signifies a series of milestones for the UAE, including this year witnessing the largest cohort of jurors to judge at a singular festival, and the notable appointment of Ali Rez from Impact BBDO Dubai as the inaugural Jury President from MENA. All eighteen jury members from the UAE reflect the country’s unwavering commitment to maintaining the highest standards of excellence and innovation in advertising, marketing, and communications, and we are confident that their extensive knowledge and insights will significantly contribute to setting new benchmarks for the global industry.”
See the full list of Presidents, Awarding and Shortlisting at canneslions.com/awards/jury
Further information on this year’s Festival and the Lions Awards can be found at canneslions.com
Motivate Media Group and Motivate Val Morgan are the official representatives of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in the UAE.
Source: Cannes Lions
The 2023 Dubai Lynx Creativity Report saw Publicis Groupe sweep four Special Award wins, while ‿ and us recorded a top three position for the third year running. Additionally, Sweetwater MEA recorded their first ever ranking in Independent Agency of the Year
Dubai Lynx, MENA’s Festival and Awards for creative excellence in branded communications, has today published the first Dubai Lynx Creativity Report. The Report, which is available to everyone, shines a light on the best creative work, as selected by Lynx Juries and includes the rankings for this year’s top performing Networks, Agencies and Companies from the MENA region.
The 2023 rankings saw Publicis Groupe sweep four Special Award wins, taking first place in Network of the Year, Media Network of the Year, MENA Agency of the Year and the Lynx Palm Award. Saatchi & Saatchi ranked in the top three for the first time in their history, taking second place in both MENA Agency of the Year and Network of the Year. ‿ and us secured a top three position in Independent Agency of the Year for the third Festival running, and Sweetwater MEA record their first ever ranking.
Speaking about the report, Ian Fairservice, Vice Chairman, Dubai Lynx, said, “2023 has been an exciting year for Dubai Lynx, with the successful return of a physical event and now to have released the first Dubai Lynx Creativity Report. The trends and themes emerging from this year’s winning work showed brands to be disruptive, positively affecting culture and truly innovative. I’d like to congratulate all the shortlisted and winning companies, for setting the benchmark for creativity in MENA for a 16th year.”
Simon Cook, CEO, LIONS, added, “The Dubai Lynx Creativity Report is a celebration of the most creative ideas from the region and we are excited to be able to share this with our community in MENA. This year’s winners showed a renewed emphasis on companies investing in creativity for growth, using cutting-edge technology and innovative ideas to reach commercial goals. Congratulations to everyone who was shortlisted, or who won a Lynx Award. Your work is raising the standard of creativity, in MENA and beyond.”
The rankings are compiled using data from Lynx-winning and shortlisted work from 2023. The Dubai Lynx Creativity Report is powered by LIONS’ intelligence platform, The Work, housing the world’s most extraordinary creative thinking with insights on how it was briefed, researched, produced and crafted. The report is an essential tool for benchmarking creative excellence and effectiveness for the year ahead, sharing analysis and insights from the winning work and lessons on how brands are growing businesses and tackling some of the region’s most challenging problems in innovative ways. The themes covered include: ‘Speaking truth to power’, ‘Cutting through with commerce’, ‘Finding regional relevance’ and ‘Harnessing football fever’.
Access the full report, here
All results for the Dubai Lynx Awards can be found here.
Impact BBDO’s Ali Rez serves as the first Cannes Lions Jury President from the MENA region
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has announced the names of the Jury Presidents who will lead juries to award this year’s Lions and set the global benchmark for excellence in creativity.
Simon Cook, CEO, LIONS, said, “These individuals represent the rich spread of exceptional talent from across the full spectrum of the creative industry. The Cannes Lions Jury Presidents play an essential role in upholding the integrity of the Lions as well as setting the creative benchmark for the global industry. We thank them for their unique perspectives, expertise, and experience for the leadership they will bring to the very important task ahead of them.”
In a first, Impact BBDO’s Ali Rez will serve as Cannes Lions’ first Jury President from the MENA region. Commenting on the appointment, Rez said, “The UAE is a place where creativity thrives, and where we believe nothing is impossible. It is a special honour to represent that very spirit of this inspiring country, and the rich heritage of the Middle East, at Cannes Lions as Jury President. I hope this announcement will pave the way for many more people from the region to lead juries in the future at this most prestigious of awards.”
The Cannes Lions 2023 Jury Presidents have been named as:
Brand Experience & Activation Lions:
Ari Weiss, Global Chief Creative Officer, DDB Worldwide, Global
Creative B2B Lions:
Tom Stein, Chairman and Chief Growth Officer, Stein IAS, Global
Creative Business Transformation Lions:
Justin Peyton, Chief Transformation Officer, Wunderman Thompson, APAC
Creative Commerce Lions:
Nancy Crimi-Lamanna, Chief Creative Officer, FCB, Canada
Creative Data Lions:
Samantha Hernández Díaz, Chief Strategy Officer, GUT Mexico City, Mexico
Creative Effectiveness Lions:
Devika Bulchandani, Global CEO, Ogilvy, Global
Creative Strategy Lions:
Amrita Randhawa, CEO, Publicis Groupe, Singapore & Southeast Asia
Design Lions:
Quinnton Harris, Co-founder & CEO, Retrospect, USA
Digital Craft Lions:
Resh Sidhu, Global Director of Arcadia Creative Studio, Snap Inc., Global
Direct Lions:
Chaka Sobhani, Global Chief Creative Officer, Leo Burnett, Global
Entertainment Lions:
Brent Anderson, Global Chief Creative Officer, TBWA\Media Arts Lab, Global
Entertainment Lions for Gaming:
Francine Li, Global Head of Marketing, Riot Games, Global
Entertainment Lions for Music:
Danielle Hinde, Owner / Executive Producer, Doomsday Entertainment, USA
Entertainment Lions for Sport:
Rob Doubal, Co-President of McCann London and Joint Chief Creative Officer of McCann UK, McCann London, UK
Film Lions:
Bruno Bertelli, Global CEO of Le Pub, Global Chief Creative Officer of Publicis Worldwide, Chief Creative Officer of Publicis Groupe Italy, Publicis Worldwide, Global
Glass Lions: The Lion for Change:
Tea Uglow, Creative Director, Google, APAC
Health & Wellness Lions:
Mel Routhier, Chief Creative Officer, VMLY&R Chicago, USA
Industry Craft Lions:
Yoshihiro Yagi, Executive Creative Director, Dentsu Inc., Japan
Innovation Lions:
Grace Francis, Global Chief Creative and Design Officer, WONGDOODY, Global
Media Lions:
Christian Juhl, Global CEO, GroupM, Global
Mobile Lions:
Shannon Washington, US Chief Creative Officer, Connected Communications, R/GA, USA
Outdoor Lions:
Javier Campopiano, Worldwide Chief Creative Officer at Grey and Global Chief Creative Officer of OpenX From WPP, Grey/OpenX, Global
Pharma Lions:
Joshua Prince, CEO, Professional Group, Omnicom Health Group, Global
PR Lions:
Jo-ann Robertson, CEO, Global Markets, Ketchum, Global
Print & Publishing Lions:
Ali Rez, Chief Creative Officer, Impact BBDO, MENAP
Radio & Audio Lions:
Tseliso Rangaka, Chief Creative Officer, FCB, South Africa
Social & Influencer Lions:
Samantha Almeida, Director of Diversity and Content Innovation, Globo, Brazil
Sustainable Development Goals Lions:
Jean Lin, Chief Culture Officer, Dentsu Group Inc., Global
Dan Wieden Titanium Lions:
David Droga, CEO & Creative Chairman, Accenture Song, Global
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity will take place between 19-23 June and will provide an annual forum for the global industry to address the most pressing issues that they and the world are facing today.
Registration to attend Cannes Lions opens on 12 January 2023 and awards submissions open on 19 January 2023. Further information on this year’s Jury Presidents, as well as the Festival, the Lions Awards and LIONS Membership can be found at canneslions.com.
The 2023 Jury Presidents line-up includes ten global experts who will lead the juries to award outstanding creativity in branded communications across MENA
Dubai Lynx, MENA’s premier Festival and Awards for creative excellence in branded communications, has announced the ten industry experts who will lead the 2023 juries.
The Jury Presidents will judge work entered across 21 different categories, including the newly launched Creative Commerce Lynx.
About the Jury Presidents, Philip Thomas, Chairman LIONS and Dubai Lynx, said, “We’re delighted to announce a host of renowned international talent to the Jury President line-up for Dubai Lynx 2023, featuring some truly remarkable creative leaders. Our Jury Presidents will bring their talent and prowess to ensure the Dubai Lynx Awards set the creative standard for the MENA region, as well as setting the future agenda. We look forward to seeing the body of work that will emerge following their discussions next year.”
2023 Dubai Lynx Jury Presidents include:
Brand Experience & Activation, Creative Commerce, Direct and Outdoor
Vicki Maguire – Chief Creative Officer, Havas London, UK
Creative Effectiveness and Creative Strategy
Anna Vogt, Chief Strategy Officer, VMLY&R London, UK
Design and Industry Craft
Sbu Sitole, Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer, The Odd Number, South Africa
Digital Craft, Mobile and Social & Influencer
Zoha Zoya, Group Creative Director, Head of Experience Design, R/GA, EMEA
Entertainment
Amani Duncan, CEO, BBH, USA
Film Craft
Rajay Singh, Film Director & Founder, Directors Think Tank, South East Asia
Film, Print & Publishing and Radio & Audio
Gustavo Lauria, Chief Creative Officer, We Believers, USA
Healthcare
Bernardo Romero, Maker, Klick Health, Canada
Media
Kate Ivory, Agency Partner, Head of Strategy, OMD EMEA, EMEA
PR
Tom Beckman, Global Chief Creative Officer, Weber Shandwick, Global
Entries into Dubai Lynx are being accepted until Thursday 2 February 2023. Click here for further information on the awards.
Motivate Val Morgan is the official representative of Dubai Lynx Festival in the UAE
Francine Li of Riot Games will serve as Jury President for the inaugural Entertainment Lions for Gaming.
Cannes Lions has announced the launch of the Entertainment Lions for Gaming. The new Lion will be judged and awarded for the first time in June 2023, with Francine Li, Global Head of Marketing, Riot Games, serving as the inaugural Jury President.
Speaking about the new Lion, Simon Cook, CEO, LIONS, said, “We’ve seen the number of Lion winners that feature gaming rise by 74% in the last five years. Based on the velocity at which this space is evolving, and the increased relevance that Gaming now holds within the creative marketing community, this feels like a natural progression. We also can’t ignore that Gaming is bigger than Hollywood and the music industry combined. I’d like to thank all the many agencies, brands, gaming experts and passionate advocates from around the world who have helped shape this new Lion. Our belief is that this award will offer a new benchmark, and shine a spotlight on creative work that sits at the intersection of brands, creativity, gaming, customer experience and communities. I’d like to thank Francine for agreeing to lead the first Entertainment Lion for Gaming jury in 2023, we are grateful for her wealth of talent and expertise.”
The Entertainment Lions for Gaming will celebrate creative work that connects people to brands through gameplay. Submissions will need to demonstrate how brands successfully tapped into complex gaming communities and seamlessly added real value to the overall gaming experience while driving commercial success.
About her role, Jury President of the Entertainment Lions for Gaming, Francine Li, said, “I’m honoured and excited to serve as the inaugural Jury President of the Entertainment Lions for Gaming. This new Lion is being introduced at a time when the gaming industry is truly reaching new heights. I believe that gaming is the future of entertainment, bringing together passionate global communities in shared immersive and interactive experiences. The creative work in gaming is community driven, deeply rooted in insight and adds value to the player experience, a true definition of modern marketing. I look forward to celebrating groundbreaking work and awarding the first ever Entertainment Lions for Gaming with a jury of my esteemed peers.”
The Entertainment Lions for Gaming, originally a part of the Entertainment Lions, is being introduced as part of a long-term plan that started when Cannes Lions separated out the Entertainment Lions for Music in 2016 and then later the Entertainment Lions for Sport in 2019.
The jury, which will be announced early next year, will be multidisciplinary and comprise creatives, brands, gaming experts, publishers, platforms and producers.
Click here for more details on the Cannes Lions awards and the changes made to other Lions. Submissions into Cannes Lions 2023 will be accepted from 19 January 2023.
Source: LIONS press release
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Highlights from the 2022 UAE Cannes Lions Awards Ceremony
The annual LIONS Creativity Report ranks the most creative businesses and people in the world based on performance at Cannes Lions.
Official rankings are presented alongside insights, analysis, and interviews with Lion-winning creators, uncovering what it takes to produce the highest-ranking work in the world.
The LIONS Creativity Report has been released and is available to everyone for free through LIONS’ insights and intelligence platform The Work. Full to the brim with insights and data, the report is the ultimate global benchmark for impactful creativity and ranks the most creative businesses and people in the world, based on performance at Cannes Lions.
Speaking about the report, Simon Cook, CEO, LIONS, said, “It’s a celebration and also a tool for future success. The official global creativity rankings provide a definitive benchmark for the industry, accompanied by insights and commentary from our winners and the talented experts who judged the work this year. I would like to congratulate everyone who ranked this year. Together, they set the global benchmark for creativity.”
The LIONS Creativity Report presents four Regional Network of the year awards and 11 global awards: Creative Company, Network, Agency, Independent Agency, Creative Brand and Palme d’Or, as well as Health Network, Health Agency, Media Network, Agency by Track, and Independent Agency by Track of the Year. The creative rankings also include the top performing Director, Art Director, Creative Director and Copywriter.
The rankings are compiled using data from Lion-winning and shortlisted work from 2022. PwC is LIONS’ Process Integrity Partner and is responsible for independently confirming due process in the calculation and reporting of the Special Awards rankings listed in the LIONS Creativity Report.
In this year’s Lions Creativity Report, Jarred Pitts and Maher Dahdouh from Impact BBDO Dubai share seventh rank as ‘Copywriter of the Year’ – another triumph for the agency, who not only won 8 Lions at this year’s Festival, but has also been ranked the No. 1 creative agency in the Middle East and Africa region for the fourth consecutive year.
Also included in the report is analysis and insights from the winning work and lessons on how brands are growing businesses and tackling some of the world’s most challenging problems in innovative ways. The themes covered include – Creativity for Growth; Scalable Solutions; Craft with a Conscience; Tech in Service to the Idea; and Invite Everybody. It is an essential companion for the coming creative year for it showcases brilliant work that will help guide creativity, as well as give exclusive insight that will support awards entries for Lions in 2023.
The LIONS Creativity Report is powered by The Work, the LIONS intelligence and insights platform that houses 250,000 pieces of work along with how it was briefed, researched, produced and crafted.
Access the full report, for free, here.
Source: Cannes Lions (Press Release)
